Seal for boxes, &amp;c.



PATENTED NOV. 2l, 1906.

E. J. BROOKS. SEAL FOR BOXES, 8vo, APPLICATION FILED 11:15.15, 1905.

f? .LVIII r UNTTED sTATEs PATENT ormoni.

SEAL FOR BOXES, &G.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application {iled February 15, 1905. Serial No. 245.706.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, EDWARD J. BROOKS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of East Orange, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Seals for Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for sealing wooden boxes used as packing-cases for shipping goods.

It consists in a novel staple-shaped seal or sealing-staple adapted to be used in connection with a band7 of cord or wire .or sheet metal and to secure the same by penetrating the band and by anchoring itself in the Wood on both sides of the band, so that it cannot be detached without so marring the seal and the wood, either or both, as to insure detection. The band is thus inseparably attached to each board of the box, and any opening of the box without violating one or more of its seals is thus prevented.

v A sheet of drawings accompanies this speciiication as part thereof.

. Figure l is a perspective view of abox provided with a sealing cord or band and with seals for the individual boards according to the present invention. Fig. 2 represents a section at A, Fig. 1, through one of the sealing-staples and through the sealing cord or band on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the sealing-staples detached. Figs. 4 and 5 represent, respectively, longitudinal and transverse sections on the lines B and C, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a face View of the same sealing-staple fiat. Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 of another species. Fig. 8 is an edge view of the sealing-staple represented by Fig.7 as it appears when completed. Fig.

9 represents a cross-section on the line D, Fig. 8, and Figs. 10, 11, and 12 represent diiferent kinds of bands in connection with which such sealing-staples are adapted to be used.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in all the figures. 4

In both species represented by the drawings the staple-shaped seal or sealing-staple a or a is stamped from sheet metal and is adapted to be completed at two or three operations with the inexpensiveness necessary to provide for the use of the numerous seals required to attach the sealing cord or band t or b2 or b3 to each board or original part of each packing case or box c, as illustrated by Fig. 1, where the box parts exposed to view are numbered 1 to 11, inclusive.

In both species the sealing-staple t or a is also constructed with a central group of sharp prongs, preferably and conveniently in the shape of a ragged eyelet 12, integral with the remainder of the stapleA and with a pair of end prongs 13 and 14, perpendicular to its face portion 15, and with means 16 or 17 for anchoring such prongs in the wood, and with suitable distinguishing marks 18 or 19 on said face portion 15. .Such marks 18 or 19 can be readily impressed in the metal in the act of cutting it from the sheet; but they may, if preferred, be printed or otherwise applied thereto in known or approved Ways and may of course vary to an unlimited extent. In the species represented by Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, said anchoring means 16 consists of holes punched in theseveral end prongs 13 and 14, adapted to admit the fiber of 'the wood when these prongs are embedded therein, as in Fig. 2. In the species represented by Figs. 7, 8, and 9 said anchoring means 17 consists of lateral notches in the edges of the end prongs and barbs formed by bending in opposite directions the edges nearest the extremities of the prongs 13 and 14 formed by said notches. It will be obvious that said anchoring-holes 16 and said anchoring notches and barbs 17 may be united in oneand-the same sealing-staple, and other like modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

The band in connection With which the improved sealing-staple is used, as above, may be a cord b of hemp or other suitable material, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2 and by Fig. 10, or it may be a wire band Z22 of one or more vstrands provided with loops 20, adapted to admit the ragged eyelet 12 or its equivalent, as represented by Fig. 11, or it may be a sheetmetal band 3 of strap iron or tin provided with holes 21, such as is furnished on reels for like purposes, as represented by Fig. 12.

After the band'b or b2 or 3 is applied to the box c in customary manner one of the sealingstaples c, or c is driven into each board or part of the box, as in Fig. 1, so as to cross the band with the ragged eyelet 12 in position to penetrate the band itself, if the latter be of cord, as represented in Fig. 2, or to penetrate the loops 20 or holes 21 of the band,4 if it be of wire or sheet metal, as illustrated by Figs. 11 and 12. The ends of the sealing-band may be connected with each other in any known or improved manner and secured by means of any suitable seal.

Having thus described said improvement, I

IOO

claim as my invention and desire to patent.

under this specificationl. A seal, for Wooden boxes, having in combination a sealing-band adapted to be penetrated by looking-prongs and a sheet-metal sealing-staple constructed With a ragged eyelet integral therewith adapted to penetrate said band and With end prongs adapted to he driven into the Wood on both sides of the band.

2. A seal, for Wooden boxes, having in oombination a sealing-band adapted to be pene- EDWARD J. BROOKS.

Witnesses:

ELLEN J. BROOKS, ELINoR BROOKS. 

